Blood & Roses

Chapter 11 - Roscoe

Present Day – Safe House

Roscoe's POV

I was so furious when Bianca showed me the sketch and told me her suspicion.

My anger came from our inability to piece it all together. A lot had been going on that hinted at sabotage, but it never occurred to us to check from within.

Moles

That was one way rivals infiltrated enemy gangs. No wonder our warehouses were hit and we lost an important consignment. They played the long game and rose in the ranks until they overthrew from within. I walked out the dining room to share the information with Adrian.

"He's one of ours," I said quietly. "Has been with us for three years now. Bianca saw him shooting at you guys in the building before the explosion."

Adrian's voice was cold. "Name."

"Santos. Santos Reed. He was assigned to the mansion six months ago. He's been in and out of every property we own."

Silence.

"Boss?"

"I know the name," Adrian replied. "He is related to one of the moles the men I questioned."

I felt the blood drain from my face. "That means there could be more we haven't detected."

"Yes. Salvatore had been playing us the whole time, biding his time. We will need to do a total purge of moles within our ranks." Adrian's voice was sharp. "Keep this info on low. Don't let anyone know Bianca identified him. She's already in their sights as a target. If he knows, he'll want her eliminated faster before she can identify anyone else."

"She's safe here. No one knows about this house, they might even think she died in the explosion."

"For now." Another pause. "But we'll need to move her later."

"Where?"

"I have a place in mind, a cabin in the mountains. No one knows about it."

"Boss, are you sure?"

"I'm sure." His voice was hard. "You'll take her there when I give the instruction. I'll send a chopper to pick you guys up to the rendezvous point. "I'll meet you there."

"Roscoe."

"Yes boss."

Guard her with your life, just like you do for me. His voice softened, just slightly. " You're the only one I can trust."

."I'll guard her with my life," I vowed.

A long silence.

"Thanks man, I trust you," Adrian said and ended the call.

I stood in the kitchen for a long moment, staring at the phone, before going back to Bianca. I thanked her for her observation and for sharing the information with me. I assured her that we would take care of it.

She just nodded. I could see that she was tired and wanted to cry but she held it in. The boss chose well. She was smart and strong, other women would have fallen apart by now but not here. I could see the valiant effort she made to rally around the loss of her love and the upheaval in her life.

I admired her tenacity, who would have thought the fragile, shy art student would match his boss in wit and stubbornness.

When she asked for a phone call, I couldn't deny her, she had earned it.

Or you're getting soft Roscoe, my inner critic countered. All the same

I gave her my phone, and took a few steps back for privacy.

She called her mom, after which she handed back my phone to me.

"Ma'am."

She looked up at me.

"We will be changing locations soon, not now but soon. Just wanted to give you a heads-up."

She blinked. "What? Why?"

"We'll be to moving to a safer location."

She stared at me." I thought this place was safe."

"It is, for now." I couldn't elaborate on who gave the orders. "Don't worry ma am, I'll tell you when we will leave."

She shrugged, "Roscoe—"

"What do you think about me visiting my family? Mother and Matteo"

" Now is not the right time, ma'am. They're safe, no one knows where they are. But if we go we might endanger them."

She nodded, picked up her sketchpad and continued sketching. "So this place we're going . . . where exactly? Is it"

I kept quiet. When she didn't get an answer, she placed her sketchpad on my lap and glared at me.

"I asked where I would be relocating to."

"All I can tell you is that it's a place in the mountains. You'll be safer there."

She kept quiet and then. "Roscoe—"

"Ma'am." I snapped my voice was firm. "There are things I can't tell you yet. But I need you to trust me. I will never do you wrong. I swear on my life."

She stared at me, her shoulders relaxed and tears filled her eyes. I scolded myself for making her cry.

I was so occupied with myself, I failed to see how tensed she had been. Who was to blame her? She was at the mercy of her dead boyfriend's guard. And had just discovered there might be moles too in his organization. A and I wasn't exactly a reassuring guy.

She might have been worried about trusting me, especially now.

"Okay Roscoe," she said quietly." Thank you for being a good friend to Adrian and for taking care of me."

I nooded.

Adrian trusted me with his life and that was why he also entrusted her to me and even if he was truly gone, I would continue to keep her safe.

I left to her to prepare for our upcoming movement. I couldn't wait to meet Adrian face to face, there was so much we needed to sort out. Something niggled at me after my call with Adrian.

Why did she withhold the mountain cabin destination from Marco?

Was he suspecting him as a mole too?